ABOUT US

Who We Are?

No Strings Attached (Scotland) is a charity, committed, through asthma management and music education to providing opportunities for young people with asthma to help them better manage their condition and lead a healthy and active life.

Living with asthma can be frustrating at times, but it should not stop anyone from living an active, healthy life. We work with all young people with asthma irrespective of background and previous experience of music.

We believe that playing an instrument, particularly a brass or woodwind instrument, is a unique way to provide a creative means for children and young people to understand the impact of breathing and their ability to control it as well

Our vision is a world where asthma does not dictate what an individual can or cannot do.

What We Do?

We deliver a range of music sessions free of charge for children and young people with asthma between the ages of 9 and 18, of all levels of ability and skill levels.

We provide practical and positive support with a qualified health professional available to discuss asthma, what asthma is and to understand effective self-management.

Music is a wonderful gift and we are committed to helping individuals feel empowered to manage their own asthma while confidently engaging with their peers and learning a valuable skill.

Learning to play a woodwind instrument can help young people with asthma increase their lung capacity as well as improving controlled breathing. It can also help people with asthma to relax, especially after an attack, and prevent the individual from panicking when they are short of breath.

We encourage people to try out different instruments to discover what works best for them and allow instruments home for practice.

We monitor the progress of children in their asthma management 3/4 times per yearly session to allow more targeted support and advice to be given. This will be achieved through both structured questioning, discussion and measurement of, for example, average Peak Flow (PF) readings, absences from school, attendances at asthma clinics, participation in activities. Progress reports are also prepared and given to parents/carers as well as being used for project evaluation purposes.

Our Sessions

Sessions currently take place every Wednesday evening between 6.00pm and 8.00pm at Paisley Grammar School, Glasgow Road, Paisley, PA1 3RP.

Meet the Team

I think here should be few words about Team at all, and then we go and fill each person bio under, but still looks way better with this text here:)

Fiona

– Founder and Development Co-ordinator

Fiona is the founder of No Strings Attached (Scotland), taking the lead to help the charity to support children and young people with asthma and to inspire others to do the same.

Fiona has played a significant role in developing asthma support groups across Scotland having previously served as the branch secretary of Bishopton Branch National Asthma Campaign (Asthma UK) from 1991 until 1997 and honorary regional organiser at the National Asthma Campaign from 1995 until 2000.

Tom

– Chair and Secretary

Tom is a father of two children with asthma and has extensive experience as a former trustee of Asthma UK (then National Asthma Campaign) and Chair of the Bishopton branch of the National Asthma Campaign).

Kayleigh

– Music Teacher

Kayleigh began playing flute aged nine and within a few years received funding to study at the RSAMD (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) junior school in Glasgow. In 2012, she graduated with first-class honours in performance from the London College of Music.

As a freelance musician, Kayleigh has worked with musical theatre companies in and around London. She is also a keen chamber musician who has performed with numerous ensembles in London mainly for corporate events.

In 2016, Kayleigh moved back to home to start work with Sistema Scotland and joined the Big Noise team in Govanhill. Throughout that year she also began working with NSA Scotland. Having had asthma as a child, she is aware of the benefits playing wind instruments can bring and was very excited to join the NSA team.

Alasdair

– Music Teacher

Alasdair Garrett has been performing and studying flute for 15 years. Having graduated from The Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, in 2013 with a 1st Class Honours Degree in flute, Alasdair returned to Scotland to conclude his studies with an MA from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. He enjoys a broad career as a professional freelance musician appearing with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and the Royal Northern Sinfonia as well as performing as a soloist and chamber musician.

A passionate chamber musician, Alasdair is a founding member of Duo Dalriada. He is also a member of Athaneum Winds who perform in partnership with Enterprise Music Scotland and Champagne Flutes, who perform in partnership with Live Music Now. Alasdair was previously a member of Quintessence, providing performances at corporate events for the City of London Corporation from 2011-13.

Alasdair has gratefully received support from the Musicians’ Company, the RCS Trust, the Countess of Munster Musical Trust, the Worshipful Company of Skinners’ Lawrence Atwell Trust, The Guildhall School Trust and the Worshipful Company of Grocers.

Asthma Nurse

Our asthma nurses differ according to project and location. However, as well as directly addressing asthma manage issues, they provide provides guidance on general lifestyle issues such as smoking, drinking, eating well and exercise asthma concentrating while helping to ensure our young people maintain good asthma management practice.

If you think we could benefit you or a family member, a parental guardian please contact Fiona:

HOW WE’RE FUNDED

No Strings Attached (Scotland) depends on donations to fund everything we do – and demand is growing all the time.

We couldn’t do what we do without our generous supporters!

We are grateful to have received funding from including those who give their time by volunteering.

Including previous periods of funding, improvements in Average Peak Flow readings for our continuing young people has averaged 10 – 12% overall.

HISTORY

No Strings Attached (Scotland) was founded in 2008 by Fiona Garrett after her daughter was diagnosed with severe asthma.

How it started...

In 1990, just a few weeks before her fourth birthday, Fiona’s daughter was rushed to hospital with sudden respiratory problems.

With no previous experience of asthma and no information about how to look after a child with the condition Fiona was moved to help set up asthma support groups to raise awareness among local communities across Scotland.

These networks inspired Fiona to go one step further and create a unique charity in No Strings Attached (Scotland) after seeing for herself the transformative effect to young people playing a woodwind instrument.

The charity has since run successful projects held at Pirie Park Primary School and Govan Campus in Glasgow and, more recently, with the Young Carers Centre in Paisley.

We continue our work

No Strings Attached (Scotland) were approached by the Carers Trust following our successful asthma management project based in schools in Govan. Fiona researched what was available for young carers, consulted with groups of young carers and spoke to a range of partners to help develop a project idea for funding.

Fiona found that a person centred approach worked best, and developed a project which could be flexible to the particular needs of young carers. The charity was determined to keep their sessions fun, enjoyable, informative and helpful. Young carers they spoke to already had lots of things happening in their lives that they had to deal with, the project had to recognise that.

Fiona said: “It’s not a clinical setting, the nurse is not in a uniform, it’s a fun environment and the young people feel confident to engage with others.”

We were able to offer the opportunity to young carers to play musical instruments, without the usual ‘tests’ which they had to pass at school. Young carers welcomed the opportunity to do so, and join up with others who had asthma too to share and learn together – about music and their conditions.

Fiona added: “We’ve been able to give young carers the tools and information to understand their Asthma better – this is what’s happening and why. They can then take control.”

Young people are able to learn more ‘deeply’ about their condition and make informed decisions to change behaviours which helps them to get on with their lives and focus on other responsibilities.

PLEASE NOTE:

If your asthma has been troubling you or you have questions relating about your medicines or inhalers you should make an appointment see either your GP or an Asthma Nurse at your local practice. In the event of an emergency do not hesitate to dial 999 and call for ambulance, or at the very least contact NHS24 on 111.

CONTACT US

If You have any question to Us, please feel free to call or write to Us any time you want, We will answer to any question within 24hours!*

GENERAL ENQUIRIES

07806 376433

WRITE US

fiona.garrett@asthmamusic.org.uk

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* No Strings Attached (Scotland) can only provide general non-emergency advice on asthma. Please note we do not provide a 24 hour helpline, nor are we a substitute for emergency services or your GP. Much as we would love to help… please do NOT call us in an emergency!In an emergency telephone 999 or at the very least NHS 111. Always err on the side of caution.For more immediate general non-emergency advice about asthma, contact the Asthma UK Medical Helpline on 0300 222 5800 (Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm)